Elite Plays
Devonta Freeman
The running back position is loaded this week, starting with Devonta Freeman. Back when the Atlanta offense was good to us, Freeman collected 156 total yards and two touchdowns against this Saints' defense.That's not a shocker given their horrid defensive numbers against opposing running backs, and Freeman should put the final nail in the coffin for the 2015 season. New Orleans has the 29th ranked rushing defense, per Football Outsiders, and rank 32nd defending opposing backs in the passing game. Regardless of what type of game this turns into, Freeman will be a part of the offense, making him one of the safer options in Week 17. The Saints are allowing a 5.0 YPC to opposing backs allowing 132 rushing yards per game.
Freeman is averaging 110 total yards of offense per game this season and rushing for 4.1 YPC. He has 13 total touchdowns in four games, but eight did come within a span of four weeks. Freeman also averages five receptions a game, giving him that little extra bump on DraftKings with the full-point PPR. With 47 carries in the last two weeks, Atlanta is back to feeding Freeman. Freeman has the second highest red-zone rush attempts total (45). This is the last week to pick on the Saints' defense, and Freeman is a good way to do it.
Ownership Estimates:
FanDuel
Cash: 25-35%
GPP: 10-20%
DraftKings
Cash: 40-50%
GPP: 15-25%
DeAngelo Williams
If you managed to fade the Steelers' passing game and just stick with DeAngelo Williams last week, you might be able to predict the future. DeAngelo Williams has another superb matchup against the next worst rushing defense in the league, Cleveland. The Browns are the 28th ranked rushing defense, and they rank 25th in defending opposing backs in the passing game. Cleveland is allowing the most rushing yards per game (135) and have allowed 4.6 YPC to opposing backs. Pittsburgh is favored by 10 and have a 28.75 team total. Williams will carry a full workload, as usual, against one of the poorer run defenses this league has to offer. Sign me up.
Do not let Williams' prior game against Cleveland scare you off of him. He has 25 receptions in the last five games and five touchdowns in the last three. Williams had a tough matchup against Denver recently, but outside of that has been a stable cash game running back. He also has a ceiling worthy of being a tournament play. He is rushing for 4.6 YPC this season and has 11 touchdowns. Williams has the seventh most red-zone rushing attempts, and he's tied for the sixth most red-zone touchdowns. That's not bad given he has sat out a few games this season as the backup to Le'Veon Bell.
Ownership Estimates:
FanDuel
Cash: 35-45%
GPP: 10-20%
DraftKings
Cash: 45-55%
GPP: 10-20%
Value Plays
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